Electric motor bearing assembly

ABSTRACT

An electric motor having a stator assembly, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, and a pair of end shields secured to the stator assembly and journalling the shaft for rotation of the rotor within the stator assembly. The motor includes a pair of self-aligning bearings for transmitting both radial and thrust (i.e., axial) loads from the shaft to the end shields. Each of the end shields has an outwardly facing race. A first ball member is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is journalled in the race of one of the end shields. A second ball member is axially movable along the shaft and is journalled in the race of its respective end shield. A pushnut or the like is provided to axially secure the second ball member to the shaft when the first and second ball members are journalled in their respective races thereby to substantially prevent axial movement (i.e., end play) of the rotor with respect to the stator assembly and to permit the transfer of axial loads in either direction from the shaft to the end shields. A method of assemblying a motor, such as above described, is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electric motors, and more particularly to animproved motor in which the rotor assembly is journalled by a pair ofself-aligning journal bearings in the end shields of the motor in such amanner as to substantially eliminate end play of the rotor relative tothe stator assembly.

Heretofore, in many motor applications, such as dishwasher motors or thelike, the rotor assembly was oftentimes journalled by means of a pair ofball bearings (or other roller element bearings) which provided thedesired low friction and thrust transfer capability required for theparticular motor application. However, these ball bearings areconsiderably more expensive than bushing or journal-type bearings usedin many other motor applications. Also, the end play (i.e., axialmovement) of the rotor with respect to the stator assembly could varyconsiderably from motor to motor thus making it necessary toindividually adjust (shim) the rotor with respect to the stator of eachmotor manufactured. This required additional time to manufacture theprior art motors thus increasing their cost. Also, certainelastomeric-backed washers were required to accommodate thrust loads inthe motor and, again, these parts added to the complexity and cost ofthe prior art motors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the several objects and features of this invention may be notedthe provision of an electric motor in which the rotor is journalled insuch manner that both radial and thrust loads may be readily andefficiently transferred from the rotor to the stator assembly (i.e., tothe end shields of the motor);

The provision of such a motor in which the rotor may be readilyjournalled in place with respect to the stator assembly without thenecessity of having to shim the rotor to a desired end playconfiguration;

The provision of such a motor in which the rotor is journalled withrespect to the stator in such manner that axial movement or end play ofthe rotor is substantially eliminated or may be readily controlled;

The provision of such a motor in which the motor is journalled insliding bearings (as opposed to rolling element bearings), and yet whichruns cooler and with less wear than with prior art rolling elementbearings;

The provision of such a motor in which limited amounts of axialmisalignment of the rotor shaft relative to the stator assembly may bereadily accommodated by the bearings journalling the shaft;

The provision of a method of assembling a motor, such as abovedescribed, in which end play of the rotor assembly may be readily andefficiently eliminated (or controlled to be within prescribed limits)and in which the bearings may be readily secured in place while securelyjournalled in their respective races; and

The provision of such a motor which is economical to manufacture, whichhas a long service life, and which is reliable in operation.

Briefly, an electric motor of this invention has a stator assemblyincluding a core with a bore therethrough. The motor further includes arotor assembly having a rotor adapted to be rotatably mounted within thebore and a shaft extending endwise from the rotor in both directions.The shaft is coaxial with the rotor and the bore. A pair of end shieldsis provided which are adapted to fit on the stator assembly and tojournal the rotor assembly. The motor includes a pair of self-aligningthrust bearings for rotatably journalling the rotor assembly, foraccommodating a limited range of misalignment between the shaft and thestator assembly, and for transferring axial thrust loads in eitherdirection from the shaft to the end shields. Each of these self-aligningthrust bearings comprise a ball member received on the shaft and atapered socket race in a respective end shield, each of the socket racessurrounds the shaft and faces outwardly of the motor. Means is providedfor securing one of the ball members in a fixed position with respect tothe shaft. The other ball member is movable axially along the shaft andmeans is provided for adjustably securing this other ball member in adesired axial position on the shaft in which the one ball member engagesits race so that it journals the shaft and so that axial thrust may betransferred in one direction from the shaft to its respective end shieldand in which the other ball member engages its race so that it alsojournals the shaft and so that axial thrust may be transferred in theother direction from the shaft to its respective end shield.

This invention further includes a method of assembling a motor such asdescribed. In this method, the rotor is first inserted in the bore ofthe core with the shaft extending outwardly therefrom. A pair of bearingsupport members (i.e., end shields) is installed or fitted on the core,each of these bearing support members having an opening therethrough forreception of a portion of the shaft and having an outwardly openingtapered race surrounding the shaft. A first ball member is fixed inaxial position on the shaft, this first ball member having a surfacethereon adapted to be journalled in its respective race for the transferof both radial loads and thrust loads in one axial direction from theshaft to the stator assembly. A second ball member is then installed onthe shaft, this second ball member having a surface thereon adapted tobe journalled in its respective race for the transfer of both radialloads and thrust loads in the opposite direction of the first ballmember from the shaft to the stator assembly. With the first ball memberseated in its race and the second ball member seated in its race, thesecond ball member is then axially secured to the shaft thereby tosubstantially prevent axial movement of the shaft and the rotor relativeto the stator assembly. Other objects and features of this inventionwill be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 of the drawing represents a vertical cross sectional view of anelectric motor of the present invention with certain parts of the motorshown in phantom for the purposes of clarity.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts in thedrawing.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing, a motor of this invention is generallyindicated in its entirety by reference character 1. The motor includes astator assembly 3 including a core 5 made up of a stack of laminationplates of suitable magnetic material. The core has a bore 6 extendinglongitudinally therethrough and further has a plurality of coils of wireconstituting stator windings 7 inserted in radial slots extendingoutwardly from bore 6 in the conventional manner. The stator assemblyfurther includes a pair of end shields 9a and 9b (also referred to asbearing support members) which are fitted on core 5 and which arepreferably secured thereto by bolts or screws which are inserted throughor into the core.

The motor further includes a rotor assembly, as generally indicated at11, including a rotor body 13 fixed on a rotor shaft 15. Shaft 15extends axially outwardly from rotor body 13 on both sides thereof. Itwill be understood that rotor assembly 11 is conventional and preferablyrotor body 13 is of a squirrel-cage type design having a plurality ofmagnetic laminations with suitable rotor conductor bars extendingaxially therethrough adjacent the periphery of the rotor body. End rings(not shown) are provided on the end faces of the rotor body forelectrically connecting the rotor bars together.

Each end shield 9a, 9b has a respective central hub 19a, 19b whichincludes an opening 21a, 21b therethrough for reception of a respectiveouter end portion of shaft 15. The shaft is rotatably journalled withinhubs 19a and 19b by means of self-aligning bearings 23a and 23b,respectively. Each of these self-aligning bearings includes a respectivetapered, outwardly facing bearing surface or race 25a, 25b provided inrespective hubs 19a and 19b and surrounding shaft 15. Further, thesebearings include a so-called ball member 27a, 27b fitted on shaft 15.Each of these ball members has a respective part-spherical outer surface29a, 29b which is socketed in its respective race for rotatablyjournalling the rotor assembly within the stator assembly (i.e., in endshield hubs 19a, 19b), for transferring axial thrust loads from therotor assembly to the stator assembly, and for accommodating a limiteddegree of axial misalignment of shaft 15 relative to the stator assembly3.

Further in accordance with this invention, one of the ball members, asindicated at 27a, is fixed in axial position relative to shaft 15. Theshaft has a circumferencial groove 30 therearound which receives aremovable retainer 31 (preferably a snap ring). A thrust collar 33a isinterposed between retainer 31 and the adjacent end of ball member 27a.For example, thrust collar 33a may be made of a suitable synthetic resinmaterial. The thrust collar has a wear-resistant washer or thrust plate35a of hardened steel or the like on its face adjacent ball member 27athereby to permit the transfer of axial thrust loads from shaft 15 inone direction (inwardly of the motor or toward the left as shown in thedrawing) to ball member 27a.

The other ball member 27b is movable in axial direction along shaft 15.The ball member is adjustably securable in axial position on shaft 15 insuch manner that ball member 27a is journalled or socketed in itsrespective race 25a and further in such manner that ball member 27b isfirmly journalled or socket in its respective race 25b. Morespecifically, a thrust collar 33b (generally similar to thrust collar33a heretofore described) is provided on the outer end of ball member27b and a hardened steel washer or thrust plate 35b is provided betweenthrust collar 33b and ball member 27b. The ball member is axiallysecured to shaft 15 by means of a push nut 37 which is applied to oneend of shaft 15 (i.e., the left end of the shaft as viewed in thedrawing figure) so as to securely lock ball member 27b in its desiredaxial position with ball members 27a and 27b socketed in theirrespective races 25a and 25b. In this manner with the ball membersfirmly socketed in their respective races and with both ball membersprevented from moving axially outwardly with respect to shaft 15, theshaft is rotatably journalled by the ball movement in their respectiveraces and axial movement of the shaft in either direction is preventedby the cooperation of the ball members, retainer 31 and pushnut 37, andtheir respective races 25a and 25b. Thus, in accordance with thisinvention, it can be readily appreciated that shaft 15 has little or noend play (i.e., axial movement) with respect to the end shields.

It will also be appreciated that pushnut 37 may be so selected as tohave a resilient flange or surface which engages thrust collar 33b andthus exerts some degree of resilient force on ball members 27a and 27bto resiliently hold them in their respective races. This also, ofcourse, serves to further reduce any residual axial movement of shaft 15relative to the end shields.

As is indicated at 39, a retaining cap is applied to the inner end ofhub 19a so as to surround the shaft. An oil slinger disk 41 is affixedto the shaft and is rotatable therewith so as to return lubricating oilto bearing 23a. It will be appreciated that a suitable lubricating wick(not shown) may be installed within hubs 19a and 19b so as to provideadequate lubrication to bearings 23a and 23b. Also, suitable caps 43aand 43b are inserted into hubs 19a and 19b so as to protect bearings 23aand 23b from dust and other contaminants.

The method of this invention of assembling motor 1 will now bedescribed. First, rotor assembly 11 is positioned within stator assembly3 so that rotor body 13 is centered in bore 6. End shields 9a and 9b arethen fitted on core 5 and bolted in place. Ball member 27a is thenreceived on the right end (as viewed in the drawing) of shaft 15 and ismoved inwardly for reception in its respective race 25a. Thrust collar33a with thrust washer 35a mounted thereon is then inserted on the shaftand moved into engagement with the outer end of ball member 27a. Then,retainer ring 31 is installed in circumferencial groove 30 thereby toaxially fix ball member 27a on shaft 15 and to prevent the ball memberfrom moving axially outwardly on the shaft. Next, ball member 27b isreceived on its respective end of the shaft and is moved axiallyinwardly for reception in its race 25b. Thrust collar 33b and thrustplate 35b are installed on the shaft and brought into engagement withthe outer end of ball member 27b. Then, push nut 37 is then applied tothe end of shaft 15 with ball member 27a in firm engagement with itsrespective race 25a. The push nut is firmly moved axially inwardly onshaft 15 so as to retain both of the ball members in their desiredsocketed positions socketed in their races thereby to rotatably journalthe rotor assembly on the races and to axially fix the rotor assemblyrelative to the races. It will further be understood that due to thepart-spherical surfaces of the ball members engaging their respectiveraces that the bearings 23a and 23b serve to take up a limited amount ofaxial misalignment of the rotor assembly with respect to the statorassembly.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects andfeatures of this invention are achieved and other advantageous resultsattained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:
 1. An electric motor having a stator assembly including a corewith a bore therethrough, a rotor assembly including a rotor adapted tobe rotatably mounted within said bore and a shaft extending endwise fromthe rotor in both directions, and a pair of end shields adapted to fiton said stator assembly and to journal said rotor assembly, said motorincluding a pair of self-aligning thrust bearings for rotatablyjournalling said rotor assembly, for accommodating a limited range ofmisalignment between said rotor assembly and said stator assembly, andfor transferring axial thrust loads in either direction from said rotorassembly to said stator assembly, each of said self-aligning thrustbearings comprising a ball member received on said shaft and a taperedsocket race in a respective end shield, each of said socket racessurrounding said shaft and facing outwardly away from said motor, meansfor holding one of said ball members in a fixed axial position withrespect to said shaft, the other of said ball members being movableaxially along said shaft, and means for adjustably holding said otherball member in a desired axial position on said shaft in which said oneball member engages its race so that it journals said shaft and so thataxial thrust may be transferred in one direction from said shaft to itsrespective end shield and in which said other ball member engages itsrace so that it journals said shaft and so that axial thrust may betransferred in the other direction from the shaft to its respective endshield.
 2. An electric motor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said meansfor holding said one ball member in a fixed axial position with respectto said shaft comprises a circumferencial groove in said shaft and aremovable retainer insertable in said groove.
 3. An electric motor asset forth in claim 2 wherein the last-said holding means furthercomprises a thrust collar surrounding said shaft and interposed betweensaid retainer and said one ball member.
 4. An electric motor as setforth in claim 3 further comprising a wear-resistant thrust washerinterposed between said thrust collar and said one ball member.
 5. Anelectric motor as set forth in claim 2 wherein said removable retaineris a snap ring.
 6. An electric motor as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid means for adjustably holding said other ball member in a desiredaxial position on said shaft comprises a fastener adjustably engageablewith said shaft along at least a portion thereof, said fastener furtherbeing cooperable with said other ball member so as to firmly hold itsocketed in its respective race.
 7. An electric motor as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said fastener is a resilient fastener which resilientlybiases both of said ball members into engagement with their respectiveraces.
 8. An electric motor as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidfastener is a push nut.
 9. An electric motor as set forth in claim 6wherein said adjustable securing means further comprising a thrustcollar interposed between said fastener and said other ball member. 10.An electric motor as set forth in claim 9 further comprising awear-resistant thrust washer interposed between said thrust collar andsaid other ball member.
 11. In an electric motor having a statorassembly and a rotor assembly, said stator assembly including a corehaving a bore therethrough, said rotor assembly including a rotoradapted to be rotatably received within said bore and a shaft extendinglongitudinally from said rotor, said motor further comprising a pair ofsupports extending from said stator assembly and rotatably receivingsaid shaft for journalling said rotor for rotation within said bore,wherein the improvement comprises: an outwardly flaring race in each ofsaid supports substantially coaxial with the longitudinal centerline ofsaid bore, a pair of ball members, one for each race, on said shaft,each of said ball members having a part-spherical surface thereonadapted to engage a respective said race for journal support of saidball member in its respective race, and means for transferring thrustfrom said shaft to said supports via each of said ball members, one ofsaid thrust tranfer means being axially fixed with respect to said shaftand being engageable with its respective ball member for the transfer ofaxial thrust from said shaft to said ball member in one axial direction,the other of said thrust transfer means being adjustably moveable withrespect to said shaft and being selectively securable to said shaft soas to maintain said one thrust transfer means in thrust transferrelation with its respective ball member and to hold this last-said ballmember in contact with its race so as to substantially eliminate anyaxial movement of said shaft in one direction with respect to saidstator assembly, said other thrust transfer means also being engageablewith its respective ball member for transferring thrust thereto and forholding its respective ball member in journalling contact with its racewhereby axial movement of said shaft in either direction issubstantially eliminated and in which axial thrust loads in eitherdirection may be transferred from the shaft to said stator assembly.